Halloween (Part 1)

I found this cute rendition of a cat costume in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. Although it's cute, the price is a bit much for me. So I decide to be creative/crafty and make my own for McKenna. I found directions online for a no-sew tutu. I headed to Hobby Lobby and bought tulle & elastic. Here's the instruction in case anyone wants to give it a try.
1 package of black elastic ($1.99)
1 25yd spool of black tulle ($2.99)
Cut the elastic to the desire waist band size. Cut the tulle in to 14in sections or longer for the tutu. Tie the tulle on the elastic band. (It took a lot of sections to fill the waistband.) And tada, beautiful, inexpensive tutu. My finished touches to the outfit are black legging and a black shirt with some pink converse.

So I tried to put my finished tutu on McKenna and she had nothing to do with it. But Jonah, was more than eager to try it on. This picture might come back to haunt him later in life but it's part of my job as a mom to help with those embarrassing childhood pictures. At least he is trying to look scary in the tutu :)

My library books are late

I stop by the local Dekalb library every once in a while. My last trip with Jonah we pick out some really great books including one call "Llama, Llama misses Mama". But of course, today it dawns on me, "I wonder when those library books are due back?" And the due date was two days ago. Oops. So they will really be about a week late b/c I probably won't get back over there until Saturday. I hope the fee is not too steep.

Library books are not the only thing I run late on these days. I'm not sure how I always run behind even when I prepare beforehand. I'll have everything packed up and ready to go for work in the morning and I still run behind. Although, I can say that if Jonah asks for extra hugs before I leave, I definitely stopping to give them. Even if I'm well prepared, I had several of those moments where your about to pull out of the driveway and you remember, "Crap! I left my coffee on the breakfast table." or "I left the birthday gift sitting on the bench". Then it's a mad dash back into the house (usually in heels). I guess my lateness could lend into forgetfulness. A beautiful quality that comes with motherhood.

It is what it is. You know where I'll be on Saturday - turning in my books to the library and checking out new one only for those to be late the next go around.

On another note, here's a picture of McKenna drinking her sweet tea from her kids cup tonight at dinner. By the time we left the restaurant, she had spilled a majority of it down her shirt and pants. Ahhh, refreshing. . .

Catching up

If you're a reader of my posts, you'll notice that I have posted a few tonight. I have a lot of catching up to do and I still can't capture all the moments and memories. Life is so full of busyness and distractions. Making dinner, washing dishes, grocery shopping, laundry. . . whew it's exhausting just listing it. It nice to just take a break and sit on the floor with the kids and watch them in ahhh.

Ahhh, it's so cute how they play.
Ahhh, it's so cute to watch McKenna run around the playroom.
Ahhh, it's so wonderful to hear Jonah say he's day was "Great!".
Ahhh, is so nice to get kisses and hugs.
Hey wait! - Jonah stop hitting your sister. OK, that's one, that's two, that's the corner!!! McKenna don't bite him back!

You know, even when they are misbehaving it's so cute to see them interact. McKenna idolizes Jonah. She imitates his every move and follows his every steps. She starting to pick up words from him too. Jonah likes to say "hey guys, let's do ____" and McKenna will repeat "guys" over and over.

They are absolutely cute together and I'm not bias at all :)

No more braces for Mommy

Two years ago, I had to start the process of orthodontics then a dental implant. And now I'm free of braces and a few weeks from having all the dental work completed! I can't tell how great it is to have my smile back. It's so great to say "cheese" with the kids.

McK's 1st Hair Cut

Top picture is the "before" and the bottom one is the "after"

In typically mom fashion, I gave McKenna her "first haircut" at home after bath. I basically cut as much as I could before she took off running. Afterwards, I cried - my little baby is growing up. I did the same thing with Jonah. Then I look at my handy work and decided I should stick with what I know and not try to cut hair.

So about a month later, on a Saturday afternoon, I was pumped up to take McKenna for her first haircut. It was girl's afternoon out. We headed to the cheesy, over priced kid's hair cuttery. Of course, McKenna loved all the cartoon cut outs and toys everywhere. While we were waiting a little boy was just in tears on his mommy's lap. I got nervous that McKenna would follow suit. When it was our turned, I tried to put her in the chair by herself, but that wasn't going to happen. I sat in the chair with her and she was quiet as a mouse.

I asked the "stylist" to give her a pixie cut. You know, short in the back and longer on the top with little bangs. She did as well as she could with McKenna turn her head back and forth, back and forth. In the end, the haircut wasn't great but it was little shorter. And McKenna had her lollipop for being such a good girl (and she didn't have to share it with brother).

1st day of school

Jonah started school in September. He goes 3 days a week to the church down the street from our house. The school reminds me of school when I was little even down to the smell of it. Jonah had a little trouble with us leaving him at school for the first couple weeks. Now, he runs into his classes with all smiles. He does like to stall my departure but asking for hugs every step I make to the door.

I absolutely love looking through his school bag at the end of each day. There's always an art piece to hang on the fridge. Jonah always says, "Mommy, look what I made for you."